About
We are in the process of digitizing our collections. The Schulich-Woolf Rare Book Collection, Robertson Davies Collection, and Chinese poster collections are hosted through Omeka and continue to grow. Images of 18th Century British Political Pamphlets, Canadian Pamphlets, stereoscopic view cards, The Young Ladies’ Journal, and World War I Victory Bonds posters are available online through QSpace.
Sample Collections in QSpace
18th Century British Political Pamphlets
The range of coverage of this comprehensive pamphlet collection extends from 1642, through the Civil War period, the Standing Army Controversy, the struggles for reform in the 1780s and 1790s and the Reform Bill of 1832. Before the development of general, non-partisan newspapers, the pamphlet was the most important medium for public discussion of a wide range of issues. This outstanding research collection now numbers over 2,500 items and includes some very scarce material.
Architectural Guidebooks Collection
A collection of guidebooks for various architecturally interesting sites across England. Ranging from as early as 1920-2010 this unique collection spans across the 20th and 21st century providing a large wealth of British history. Guidebooks in the collection feature a plethora of different sites such as manor houses, castles, city guides and religious institutions.The collection works well alongside books in the Schulich-Woolf Rare Book Collection in W.D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections giving a great picture of the changing landscape of Britain.
Canadian Pamphlet Collection
This collection includes pamphlets printed across Canada on a variety of social and historical topics. Publication dates range from the early 19th century to the mid 20th century. Over 3,300 pamphlets are available to view online.
Chinese Papercut Posters
This set of papercuts reflects the history of the Chinese revolution from the founding of the Chinese Communist Party to the establishment of People's Republic of China. This set includes the most representative events in all stages of the revolution and creating a microcosm of the history of the Chinese people seeking liberation. Among these historical events, the majority of them were also displayed in the film “The East Is Red” which is a “song and dance epic” filmed in 1965 for celebrating the 15th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Chinese Posters
The Chinese Poster collection includes numerous posters from the Chinese Cultural Revolution collected by Evelyn Reid in the 1970s and donated to Special Collections in 2002.
Robertson Davies Collection
The Robertson Davies collection is comprised of more than 5000 volumes, theatre prints and ephemera, this remarkable collection reflects Davies's interests in literature, literary criticism, art, music, theatre, theatre criticism, theatre biography and autobiography, film, drama, history and psychology. The Tinsel Print Collection is our first endeavour to highlight the various theatre and personal ephemera in the Robertson Davies collection.
Schulich Historical Financial Documents Collection
A collection of historical financial documents from the 17th century to the 20th century. The documents are primarily from Europe, but also include examples from China and Japan.
Schulich-Woolf Rare Book Collection
The Schulich-Woolf Rare Book Collection is focused on history and culture as expressed through early modern printing. At its core are the personal collections of Canadian entrepreneur, Seymour Schulich and Queen's Principal, Daniel Woolf. Through Mr. Schulich's continued support, W.D. Jordan Rare Books and Special Collections is actively adding to the initial 400 volume donation by acquiring 16th-century English printed books.
Stereoscopic Images
Stereoscopic views, or stereo cards, consist of two photographs, taken from slightly different angles and mounted on card, that would appear three-dimensional when viewed through a stereoscope. Wildly popular in the mid 19th and early 20th centuries, they were an early mass medium that served a variety of social functions — ideological, aesthetic, or even spiritual — that have, thus far, received little scholarly attention.
World War I Victory Bonds
A selection of victory bonds from our extensive World War I poster collection.
The Young Ladies' Journal
The Young Ladies’ Journal (1864-1920) is an illustrated periodical that was marketed specifically to a young, female, middle-class audience. Each month, the YLJ published several fashion supplements that were distributed with its regular magazine issues. These supplements feature illustrated fashion spreads, needlework design and crafting templates, and dress patterns that could be cut out and traced onto fabric. When viewed together, these supplements provide a powerful visual demonstration of the relationship between fashion and consumer culture.